Jonathan Lee    AccuScore Analyst
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This is the first true “clash of the titans” in the NBA this season.  While the Western conference is once again very deep with Houston, Dallas, Utah, Phoenix and improving squads in Denver and Portland, the Lakers and Hornets are still the two most have tabbed as favorites.  AccuScore currently has them projected as the No.1 and No. 3 seeds in the west combining for 120 wins.

L.A. is currently 6-0, but is coming off a scintillating comeback win last night in Dallas.  Kobe and company will have to recover quickly as they face Chris Paul and the Hornets tonight in New Orleans.  AccuScore simulations have this game a virtual coin flip.  The two teams are separated by only a tenth of a point with New Orleans have a 2% advantage by virtue of playing at home.

The biggest difference between the two teams in the early going is on the defensive end.  Both teams average more than 107 points per 100 possessions ranking in the top 6 in offensive efficiency.  The Lakers though, are by far the better defensive team statistically thus far allowing just 88.5 per 100 possessions, the best mark in the NBA (1.4 ahead of Boston).  By contrast, the Hornets are allowing 102.5 points per 100 possessions ranking as the definition of average (16^th in the league). 

Despite the defensive improvements Phil Jackson has made this season, the one thing the Lakers still have problems with is quick guards that can penetrate the lane and collapse L.A.’s new strong-side zone concepts.  Chris Paul is probably the best penetrator on the planet at the moment, and will likely cause sizable problems for the Lakers.  He is projected for 22 points and 13 assists tonight.  L.A. will need to try and force him to be more one-dimensional – either a scorer or a passer, but not both.

ODEN SET TO RETURN

The biggest news of the day was that Greg Oden would be returning to the Portland lineup against the Heat.  The Blazers are 4-3 and are currently projected to have the ninth best chance of reaching the playoffs.  The return of a healthy Oden would be huge in passing Denver and possibly the Spurs and Mavericks to move up the conference ladder.  Oden still has a long way to go with his game namely staying healthy and finding a go-to post move (along with the associated countermoves).  What he is able to do immediately is be a game-changer on defense.  On a team with Brandon Roy, Rudy Fernandez, LaMarcus Aldridge and other talented players, that should be enough.

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